Survival Guide

Survival Guide

July 10, 1996

REMINDERS

POLITICS ON THE BOULEVARD. Newport News Mayor Joe Frank will be guest speaker at 12:30 today during ``Politics on the Boulevard,'' a 30-minute event held on Warwick Boulevard in Hilton Village. Sponsored by Hilton Renaissance, this twice-monthly event will feature local, state and national political personalities. Information: Bennett Wilson, 596-5630.

BY THE NUMBERS

AIDING THE AGED. In response to the problem of answering 2,000 phone calls per day at the Virginia Retirement System, the agency installed a state-of-the-art telephone system and created the Information Center in 1995. The phone system and center represent a total investment of more than $600,000. The agency's long-term service goal is to develop a mechanism capable of answering 90 percent of incoming telephone calls within 20 seconds and fully responding to 90 percent of inquiries without having to transfer a caller. With assets of $21.7 billion, the VRS is the 32nd-largest public or private pension fund in the U.S. and the 52nd-largest fund internationally, according to the agency.

OZONE FORECAST

CODE GREEN. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality forecasts that ground-level ozone levels will be Code Green, in the ``good-to-moderate'' range this afternoon and evening in Hampton Roads. Ozone formed in the air is expected to be fairly low.

HIGHWAY HEADACHES

TRAFFIC HOT LINES. For information on closings and traffic conditions for Hampton Roads, call the Daily Press 1-Line at 928-1111 and enter category 7623 (ROAD). The call is toll-free throughout most of Hampton Roads. Other areas: Smithfield, 357-6594.

COLEMAN BRIDGE. Bridge openings are scheduled for 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily for testing of the span until August. An opening is also scheduled for 10:30 a.m. today, subject to change.